Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the issue of the Ingram sub-machine pistol to security forces in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MasonI have seen Press reports on this subject. A limited number of Ingram sub-machine guns have been issued to the Army in Northern Ireland. They are for self-defence purposes only and are not issued with the silencer shown in Press photographs. I wish to stress once again that no members of the SAS are serving in Northern Ireland. Any allegation that the British Army is engaged in assassination is, of course, entirely without foundation.